Multi-camera device

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with multi-camera devices are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a multi-camera device may include 3 or more camera sensors disposed on a world facing side of the multi-camera device. Further, the multi-camera device may be configured to provide a soft shutter button at a location on an opposite side to the world facing side, coordinated with locations of the 3 or more camera sensors that reduces likelihood of blocking of one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/586,095 file, entitled “MULTI-CAMERA DEVICE,” filed Sep. 27,2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/900,359 file, entitled “MULTI-CAMERA DEVICE,” filed Feb. 20, 2018,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/617,816,entitled “MULTI-CAMERA DEVICE,” filed Jun. 8, 2017, which is adivisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/818,987,entitled “MULTI-CAMERA DEVICE,” filed Aug. 5, 2015, which is anon-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/046,398, entitled “Multi-Camera Device,” filed on Sep. 5, 2014. Thepresent application claims priority to the Ser. No. 16/586,095, the Ser.No. 15/900,359, the Ser. No. 15/617,816, the Ser. No. 14/818,987, andthe 62/046,398 applications. The Ser. No. 16/586,095, the Ser. No.15/900,359, the Ser. No. 15/617,816, the Ser. No. 14/818,987, and the62/046,398 applications are hereby fully incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of photography, inparticular, to apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated withmulti-camera devices for depth photography and/or depth videoapplications.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwiseindicated herein, the materials described in this section are not priorart to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be priorart by inclusion in this section.

Depth photography and depth video applications require multi-cameradevices with 2 or more world-facing cameras. Further, for propermulti-camera, depth mode operation, the 2 or more world-facing camerasneed to be running concurrently with their captured frames synchronizedand numbered in sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitatethis description, like reference numerals designate like structuralelements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a user facing view and a world facing view of amulti-camera device of the present disclosure for depth photography anddepth video applications, in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the multi-camera device, furtherdepicting placement of a soft shutter button, in accordance withembodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates another front view of the multi-camera device,depicting viewfinders of the multi-camera device, in accordance withembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates still another front view of the multi-camera device,depicting provision of an alert when one or more of the camera sensorsare blocked or obscured, in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process for determining occlusion, blocking of acamera sensor, in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of the multi-camera device of FIGS.1-5, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example storage medium with instructionsconfigured to enable a multi-camera device to practice the presentdisclosure, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrate a function block view of the camera logic, inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with multi-cameradevices are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a multi-camera device mayinclude 3 or more camera sensors disposed on a world facing side of themulti-camera device for depth photography or depth video applications.Further, the multi-camera device may be configured to provide a softshutter button to be disposed at a location on an opposite side to theworld facing side, coordinated with locations of the 3 or more camerasensors that reduces likelihood of blocking of one or more of the 3 ormore camera sensors. When the soft shutter button is activated, themulti-camera device operates with all camera sensors sensingconcurrently and their captured frames synchronized and numbered insequence.

In embodiments, the 3 or more camera sensors may include one highresolution camera sensor and two stereo camera sensors, and themulti-camera device is further configured with view finder logic toprovide a main view finder for the one high resolution camera sensor,and two picture-in-picture viewfinders for the two stereo camerasensors.

Still further, in embodiments, the multi-camera device may includeblocking determination logic to determine whether one or more of the 3or more camera sensors is blocked, and provide an alert if at least oneof the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked.

In the description to follow, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate likeparts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustrationembodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may bemade without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

Operations of various methods may be described as multiple discreteactions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful inunderstanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order ofdescription should not be construed as to imply that these operationsare necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may notbe performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may beperformed in a different order than the described embodiments. Variousadditional operations may be performed and/or described operations maybe omitted, split or combined in additional embodiments.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B”means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the presentdisclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B),(A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “inembodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same ordifferent embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,”“having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of thepresent disclosure, are synonymous.

As used hereinafter, including the claims, the term “module” may referto, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group)and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or moresoftware or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/orother suitable components that provide the described functionality.

FIG. 1 illustrates a user facing view and a world facing view of amulti-camera device of the present disclosure, in accordance withembodiments. As illustrated, in embodiments, multi-camera device 100 mayinclude 3 camera sensors 106 co-disposed on a world facing side ofmulti-camera device 100 for depth photography or depth videoapplications during a depth camera mode of operation. A main one of the3 camera sensors 106 may be employed for conventional photography duringa single camera mode of operation.

Unlike traditional smartphones or computing tablets where the shutterbutton is typically horizontally centered and below the centerfold ofthe device, the position of the shutter button 104 of multi-cameradevice 100 intelligently accounts for the physical locations of theworld-facing camera sensors. More specifically, in embodiments,multi-camera device 100 may be configured to provide a soft shutterbutton 102 at a location on an opposite side to the world facing side,the user facing side, coordinated with locations of the 3 camera sensors106 that reduce likelihood of blocking of one or more of the 3 camerasensors 106. The user facing side may also be referred to as the frontside of multi-camera device 100, and the world facing side may bereferred to as the rear or back side of multi-camera device 100.

In embodiments, the 3 camera sensors 106 may include one high resolutioncamera sensor (8MP) and two stereo camera sensors (720p). All 3 camerasensors, the high resolution camera sensor (8MP) and the two stereocamera sensors (720p) are employed during the depth camera mode ofoperation and are synchronized by logic to concurrently capture multipleframes with identical frame sequence numbers, whereas only the highresolution camera sensor (8MP) is employed during the single camera modeof operation. In embodiments, the 3 camera sensors 106 may be arrangedin a triangular pattern with the high resolution camera sensor (8MP)disposed proximally at the center of a side edge, and the two stereocamera sensors (720p) disposed proximally near the side edge at the topand bottom edges.

In embodiments, multi-camera device 100 may be configured with cameralogic to place the soft shutter button 102 (also referred to as trigger)at the lower right corner of the user facing (front) side ofmulti-camera device 100 to guide a user in holding the multi-cameradevice 100 to reduce the likelihood of the user's hands or fingersblocking one or more of the 3 camera sensors 106. See also FIG. 2 forthe complementary placement of the soft shutter button 102 or trigger,when the multi-camera device 100 is operated in a landscape orientation.When the soft shutter button is activated, the multi-camera deviceoperates with all camera sensors sensing concurrently and their capturedframes synchronized and numbered in sequence.

Referring now to FIG. 3, wherein another user facing or front view ofmulti-camera device 100, in accordance with embodiments, is illustrated.As shown, in embodiments, multi-camera device 100 may be configured withcamera logic (e.g., view finder logic) to provide a main view finder 302for the one high resolution camera sensor, and two picture-in-pictureviewfinders 304 a and 304 b for the two stereo camera sensors.

In embodiments, multi-camera device 100 may be configured with a camerapreview window (not shown) for a user to select the depth camera mode ofoperation or the single camera mode of operation. In response to a userselecting the depth camera mode, a new preview display that shows all ofthe camera sensors 106 in real-time will be presented. The background ofthe main preview surface 302 will display the main high resolutioncamera frame, while two smaller picture-in-picture windows 304 a and 304b will display the stereo camera previews.

Referring now to FIG. 4, wherein still another user facing or front viewof multi-camera device 100, in accordance with embodiments, isillustrated. As shown, in embodiments, the multi-camera device 100 maybe configured with camera logic (e.g., blocking determination logic) todetermine whether one or more of the 3 camera sensors 106 is blocked orobscured by either the user's hands, fingers or by another object, andprovide an alert 102 if at least one of the 3 camera sensors 106 isblocked. In alternate embodiments, in addition to or in lieu of a visualalert 102, an audio and/or mechanical alert, such as vibration, may beprovided.

In embodiments, in response to a user selection of the depth cameramode, the multi-camera device 100 may switch from the single camera modeto the multi-camera mode operation. At this time, a scan may begin toevaluate if any or all of the stereo cameras 106 are being blocked orobscured. If a block or obscure state is flagged, an alert message inthe camera preview (or a sound/voice or vibration alert) may be providedto indicate that the multi-camera device 100 is blocked or obscured. Inembodiments, the alert message and/or signals may continue and not goaway until the user has adjusted their hands, fingers or any object,unblocking all the multi-camera sensors 106.

In embodiments, multi-camera device 100 may be configured to perform athreshold scan of the preview image to determine if one or more ofcamera sensors 106 is blocked, thus ensuring all three world-facingcamera sensors are unobscured at the same time for depth photography ordepth video application.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process for determining occlusion, blocking orobscuring of one or more of the camera sensors, in accordance withembodiments. Process 500 may be performed by e.g., a camera applicationwithin multi-camera device 100.

At blocks 502 and 504, RGB images of two stereo camera sensors may bereceived.

At block 505, the images of the two camera may be smoothed, e.g., usinga Gaussian kernel. At block 506, the images of the two cameras may bedown-sampled, e.g. to 80×45.

At block 508, the down-sampled images may be converted to CIE-LAB colorspace images (CIE=International Commission on Illumination).

At block 510, color histograms for both a and b channel may be built forboth images.

At block 512, the two histograms may be compared using I₁ or X²distance, where I₁ stands for the distance of the histograms, and X²stands for the Chi-Squared distances of the histograms.

At block 514, a determination may be made on whether the distance isgreater than a threshold? The threshold value may vary dependent onapplications, e.g., quality desired, and/or lighting environments, lowlight and/or high, intense, reflective light environments. The thresholdvalues may be empirically determined.

At block 516, if a result of the determination indicates that thethreshold is exceeded, an occlusion, i.e. blocking, conclusion may bedrawn. Further, on conclusion of occlusion, an alert action (audio,visual, and/or mechanical) may be taken as earlier described.

At block 518, on the other hand, if a result of the determinationindicates that the threshold is not exceeded, no occlusion, i.e.blocking, conclusion may be drawn.

Before further describing multi-camera device 100, it should be notedthat while for ease of understanding, multi-camera device 100 has beendescribed as having 3 camera sensors 106, the present disclosure is notso limited. In alternate embodiments, multi-camera device 100 may beconfigured with more than 3 camera sensors.

Referring now to FIG. 6, wherein a block diagram of the multi-cameradevice 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments, isillustrated. As shown, multi-camera device 100 may include one or moreprocessors or processor cores 602, and system memory 604. Inembodiments, multiples processor cores 602 may be disposed on one die.For the purpose of this application, including the claims, the terms“processor” and “processor cores” may be considered synonymous, unlessthe context clearly requires otherwise. Additionally, multi-cameradevice 100 may include mass storage device(s) 606 (such as solid statedrives), input/output device(s) 608 (such as camera sensors 106,display, and so forth) and communication interfaces 610 (such as networkinterface cards, modems and so forth). In embodiments, the display maybe touch sensitive. In embodiments, communication interfaces 610 maysupport wired or wireless communication, including near fieldcommunication. The elements may be coupled to each other via system bus612, which may represent one or more buses. In the case of multiplebuses, they may be bridged by one or more bus bridges (not shown).

Each of these elements may perform its conventional functions known inthe art. In particular, system memory 604 and mass storage device(s) 606may be employed to store a working copy and a permanent copy of theprogramming instructions implementing the operations described earlier,e.g., but not limited to, operations associated with placement of theshutter button, provision of the previews, determination of blocking,provision of alert, capturing frames, synchronization of capturedframes, numbering the synchronized frames in sequence, and so forth,denoted as camera logic 622. The various elements may be implemented byassembler instructions supported by processor(s) 602 or high-levellanguages, such as, for example, C, that can be compiled into suchinstructions.

The permanent copy of the programming instructions may be placed intopermanent mass storage device(s) 606 in the factory, or in the field,through, for example, a distribution medium (not shown), such as acompact disc (CD), or through communication interface 610 (from adistribution server (not shown)).

The number, capability and/or capacity of these elements 610-612 mayvary, depending on the intended use of example multi-camera device 100,e.g., whether example multi-camera device 100 is a smartphone, tablet,ultrabook, or a laptop. The constitutions of these elements 610-612 areotherwise known, and accordingly will not be further described.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium having instructions configured to practice all or selected onesof the operations associated with operations associated with placementof the shutter button, provision of the previews, determination ofblocking, provision of alert, and so forth, earlier described, inaccordance with various embodiments. As illustrated, non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium 702 may include a number of programminginstructions 704. Programming instructions 704 may be configured toenable a device, e.g., multi-camera device 100, in response to executionof the programming instructions, to perform, e.g., various operationsassociated with placement of the shutter button, provision of thepreviews, determination of blocking, provision of alert, capturingframes, synchronization of captured frames, numbering the synchronizedframes in sequence, and so forth, described with references to FIGS.1-5. In alternate embodiments, programming instructions 704 may bedisposed on multiple non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 702instead. In still other embodiments, programming instructions 704 may beencoded in transitory computer readable medium, such as signals.

Referring back to FIG. 6, for one embodiment, at least one of processors602 may be packaged together with a computer-readable storage mediumhaving camera logic 622 (in lieu of storing in system memory 604 and/ormass storage device 606) configured to practice all or selected ones ofthe operations earlier described with references to FIG. 1-5. For oneembodiment, at least one of processors 602 may be packaged together witha computer-readable storage medium having camera logic 622 to form aSystem in Package (SiP). For one embodiment, at least one of processors602 may be integrated on the same die with a computer readable storagemedium having camera logic 622. For one embodiment, at least one ofprocessors 602 may be packaged together with a computer-readable storagemedium having camera logic 622 to form a System on Chip (SoC). For atleast one embodiment, the SoC may be utilized in, e.g., but not limitedto, a hybrid computing tablet/laptop.

Referring now to FIG. 8, wherein a function block view of the cameralogic, in accordance with various embodiments, is shown. As illustrated,in embodiments, camera logic 622 may include main engine 802, and anumber of auxiliary function blocks, such as occlusion function block804, alert function block 806, and setting function block 808. Mainengine 802 may be configured with the main logic to operate multi-cameradevice 100, including, but are not limited to, operation mode selection,soft shutter placement, preview, capturing of image, synchronization ofcaptured frames, numbering the synchronized frames in sequence, and soforth. Occlusion function block 804 may be configured to determineobstruction/occlusion as earlier described. Alert function block 806 maybe configured to provide alert as earlier described. Setting functionblock 808 may be configured to set various configuration parameters,including, but are not limited to, threshold values for determiningocclusion, alert preferences, and so forth. In alternate embodiments,camera logic 622 may include more or less functions distributed in moreor less function blocks.

Example 1 may be a multi-camera device, comprising: 3 or more camerasensors disposed on a world facing side of the multi-camera device; anda soft shutter button to be disposed on an opposite side to the worldfacing side, at a location coordinated with locations of the 3 or morecamera sensors that reduces likelihood of a user of the multi-cameradevice blocking one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors.

Example 2 may be example 1, wherein the 3 or more camera sensors aredisposed in a triangular pattern on one edge of the world facing side ofthe multi-camera device, and the soft shutter button may be disposed ina lower corner of an opposite edge of the opposite side.

Example 3 may be example 2, wherein a first of the 3 or more camerasensors may be disposed proximally at a center location of a side edgeof the world facing side of the multi-camera device, a second of the 3or more camera sensors may be disposed proximally at a location biasedtowards the side edge, at a top edge of the world facing side of themulti-camera device, and a third of the 3 or more camera sensors may bedisposed proximally at a location biased towards the side edge, at abottom edge of the world facing side of the multi-camera device.

Example 4 may be example 3, wherein the first camera sensor has a firstresolution, and the second and third camera sensors have second andthird resolutions that are lower than the first resolution.

Example 5 may be example 4, wherein the second and third camera sensorsform a stereo camera pair.

Example 6 may be example 4, wherein the first camera sensor has a firstresolution of 8MP, and the second and third camera sensors have secondand third resolutions, both of 720p.

Example 7 may be example 4, further comprising view finder logic toprovide a main view finder for the first camera sensor.

Example 8 may be example 7, wherein the multi-camera device has at leasta single camera mode of operation, and the view finder logic may providethe main view finder in at least the single camera mode of operation.

Example 9 may be example 8, wherein the multi-camera device has at leastanother depth camera mode of operation, and the view finder logic mayalso provide the main view finder during the depth camera mode ofoperation.

Example 10 may be example 7, wherein the view finder logic to furtherprovide two picture-in-picture viewfinders for the second and thirdcamera sensors.

Example 11 may be example 10, wherein the multi-camera device has atleast a depth camera mode of operation, and the view finder logic mayalso provide the two picture-in-picture viewfinders during the depthcamera mode of operation.

Example 12 may be any one of examples 1-11, further comprising blockingdetermination logic to determine whether one or more of the 3 or morecamera sensors is blocked, and provide an alert, when at least one ofthe 3 camera sensors is determined to be blocked.

Example 13 may be example 12, wherein the alert may comprise a selectedone of a visual alert, an audio alert or a mechanical alert.

Example 14 may be example 12, wherein the blocking determination logicmay receive and analyze images from at least 2 of the 3 or more camerasto determine whether one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors isblocked.

Example 15 may be example 14, wherein to analyze images from at least 2camera sensors, the blocking determination logic may build respectivehistograms for one or more color channels for the images, and comparethe histograms.

Example 16 may be example 15, wherein to compare the histograms, theblocking determination logic may compute distances of the histograms.

Example 17 may be example 14, wherein to analyze images from at least 2camera sensors, the blocking determination logic may smooth or downsample the images.

Example 18 may be at least one computer-readable storage mediumcomprising a plurality of instructions configured to cause amulti-camera device having 3 or more camera sensors, in response toexecution of the instructions by the multi-camera device, to provide asoft shutter button at a location on an opposite side to a world facingside of the multi-camera device where the 3 or more camera sensor aredisposed, wherein the location of the soft shutter button may beselected in view of locations of the 3 or more camera sensors on theworld facing side to reduce likelihood of a user of the multi-cameradevice blocking one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors.

Example 19 may be example 18, wherein the 3 or more camera sensors aredisposed in a triangular pattern on one edge of the world facing side ofthe multi-camera device, and the multi camera device may be caused toplace the soft shutter button in a lower corner of an opposite edge ofthe opposite side.

Example 20 may be example 18, wherein a first of the 3 or more camerasensors has a first resolution, and a second and a third of the 3 ormore camera sensors have a second and a third resolution that are lowerthan the first resolution; wherein the multi-camera device may befurther caused to provide a main view finder for the first camerasensor, and two picture-in-picture viewfinders for the second and thirdcamera sensors.

Example 21 may be example 20, wherein the multi-camera device has atleast a single camera mode of operation, and the multi-camera device maybe caused to provide the main view finder in at least a single cameramode of operation.

Example 22 may be example 21, wherein the multi-camera device has atleast another depth camera mode of operation, and the multi-cameradevice may be caused to also provide the main view finder during thedepth camera mode of operation.

Example 23 may be example 20, wherein the multi-camera device has atleast a depth camera mode of operation, and the multi-camera device mayprovide the two picture-in-picture viewfinders during the depth cameramode of operation.

Example 24 may be any one of examples 18-23, wherein the multi-cameradevice may be further caused to determine whether one or more of the 3or more camera sensors is blocked, and provide an alert, when at leastone of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked.

Example 25 may be example 24, wherein the multi-camera device may befurther caused to provide one or more of a visual alert, an audio alertor a mechanical alert, when at least one of the 3 or more camera sensorsmay be blocked.

Example 26 may be example 24, wherein the multi-camera device may befurther caused to analyze images from at least 2 of the 3 or morecameras to determine whether one or more of the 3 or more camera sensorsis blocked.

Example 27 may be example 26, wherein the multi-camera device may befurther caused to build respective histograms for one or more colorchannels for the images, and compare the histograms, to analyze imagesfrom at least 2 camera sensors.

Example 28 may be example 27, wherein the multi-camera device may befurther caused to compute distances of the histograms, to compare thehistograms.

Example 29 may be example 26, wherein the multi-camera device may befurther caused to smooth or down sample the images, to analyze imagesfrom at least 2 camera sensors.

Example 30 may be a method for operating a multi-camera device,comprising: providing, by the multi-camera device, a soft shutter buttonat a location on an opposite side to a world facing side of themulti-camera device where 3 or more camera sensors are disposed, whereinthe location may be coordinated with location of the 3 or more camerasensors to reduce likelihood of blocking one or more of the 3 or morecamera sensors; determining, by the multi-camera device, whether one ormore of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked; and providing, by themulti-camera device, an alert when a result of the determinationindicates at least one of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked.

Example 31 may be example 30, wherein providing an alert may compriseproviding, by the multi-camera device, a selected one of a visual alert,an audio alter or a mechanical alert.

Example 32 may be example 30 or 31, wherein a first of the 3 camerasensors has a first resolution, and a second and a third of the 3 camerasensors have a second and a third resolution that are lower than thefirst resolution; wherein the method may further comprise providing amain view finder for the first camera sensor, and two picture-in-pictureviewfinders for the second and third camera sensors.

Example 33 may be example 32, wherein the multi-camera device has atleast a single camera mode of operation, and providing the main viewfinder may comprise providing the main view finder in at least a singlecamera mode of operation.

Example 34 may be example 33, wherein the multi-camera device has atleast another depth camera mode of operation, and providing the mainview finder may comprise providing the main view finder during the depthcamera mode of operation.

Example 35 may be example 32, wherein the multi-camera device has atleast a depth camera mode of operation, and providing the twopicture-in-picture view finders may comprise providing the twopicture-in-picture viewfinders during the depth camera mode ofoperation.

Example 36 may be example 30 or 31, wherein determining whether one ormore of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked may comprise analyzingimages from at least 2 of the 3 or more cameras to determine whether oneor more of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked.

Example 37 may be example 36, wherein analyzing images from at least 2camera sensors may comprise building respective histograms for one ormore color channels for the images, and comparing the histograms.

Example 38 may be example 37, wherein comparing the histograms maycomprise computing distances of the histograms.

Example 39 may be example 38, wherein analyzing images from at least 2camera sensors comprises smoothing or down sampling the images.

Example 40 may be a multi-camera apparatus, comprising: 3 or more camerasensors disposed on a world facing side of the multi-camera apparatus;and means for providing a soft shutter button at a location at alocation on an opposite side to the world facing side of themulti-camera apparatus, wherein the location may be coordinated withlocations of the 3 or more camera sensors to reduce likelihood ofblocking one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors.

Example 41 may be example 40, further comprising means for determiningwhether one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked; andmeans for providing an alert when a result of the determinationindicates at least one of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked.

Example 42 may be example 41, wherein means for providing an alertcomprises means for providing a selected one of a visual alert, an audioalter or a mechanical alert.

Example 43 may be example 40, 41 or 42, wherein a first of the 3 camerasensors has a first resolution, and a second and a third of the 3 camerasensors have a second and a third resolution that are lower than thefirst resolution; wherein the apparatus further comprises means forproviding a main view finder for the first camera sensor, and means forproviding two picture-in-picture viewfinders for the second and thirdcamera sensors.

Example 44 may be example 43, wherein the multi-camera apparatus has atleast a single camera mode of operation, and means for providing themain view finder comprises means for providing the main view finder inat least a single camera mode of operation.

Example 45 may be example 44, wherein the multi-camera apparatus has atleast another depth camera mode of operation, and means for providingthe main view finder comprises means for providing the main view finderduring the depth camera mode of operation.

Example 46 may be example 43, wherein the multi-camera apparatus has atleast a depth camera mode of operation, and means for providing the twopicture-in-picture view finders comprises means for providing the twopicture-in-picture viewfinders during the depth camera mode ofoperation.

Example 47 may be example 41 or 42, wherein means for determiningwhether one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors is blocked comprisesmeans for analyzing images from at least 2 of the 3 or more cameras todetermine whether one or more of the 3 or more camera sensors isblocked.

Example 48 may be example 47, wherein means for analyzing images from atleast 2 camera sensors comprises means for building respectivehistograms for one or more color channels for the images, and means forcomparing the histograms.

Example 49 may be example 48, wherein means for comparing the histogramsmay comprise means for computing distances of the histograms.

Example 50 may be example 49, wherein means for analyzing images from atleast 2 camera sensors may comprise means for smoothing or down samplingthe images.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described hereinfor purposes of description, a wide variety of alternate and/orequivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the samepurposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and describedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thisapplication is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of theembodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended thatembodiments described herein be limited only by the claims.

Where the disclosure recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalentthereof, such disclosure includes one or more such elements, neitherrequiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinalindicators (e.g., first, second or third) for identified elements areused to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate or imply arequired or limited number of such elements, nor do they indicate aparticular position or order of such elements unless otherwisespecifically stated.

1. (canceled)
 2. A mobile computing device, comprising: a housinghaving: a first edge; a second edge; a first corner joining the firstand second edges; a third edge opposite the first edge; a second cornerjoining the second and third edges; a fourth edge opposite the secondedge, the first and third edges having a first length, the second andfourth edges having a second length greater than the first length; athird corner joining the third and fourth edges; a fourth corner joiningthe first and fourth edges; a first side; and a second side opposite thefirst side; a touchscreen associated with the first side and facing in afirst direction; a first camera sensor to generate first data, the firstdata associated with an environment in a second direction opposite thefirst direction; a second camera sensor to generate second data, thesecond data associated with the environment in the second direction; athird camera sensor to generate third data, the third data associatedwith the environment in the second direction, the first camera sensorhaving a higher resolution than either the second camera sensor or thethird camera sensor, the first, second, and third camera sensorsarranged in a triangular pattern, the first, second, and third camerasensors closer to the first edge than to the third edge; at least onestorage device; and at least one processor to execute instructions to:cause a soft shutter button to be displayed on the touchscreen, the softshutter button to be displayed closer to the third edge than to thefirst edge; cause the touchscreen to display first content associatedwith at least one of the first data or the second data and displaysecond content associated with the third data, the first content and thesecond content to be displayed concurrently on the touchscreen; enableswitching of the mobile computing device between different camera modes;and process, when the mobile computing device is in a first one of thedifferent camera modes, at least two of the first data, the second data,or the third data.
 3. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein atleast one of the second data or the third data include informationrelating to depth associated with the environment in the seconddirection.
 4. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the atleast one processor is to process, when the mobile computing device isin the first one of the different camera modes, all three of the firstdata, the second data, and the third data.
 5. The mobile computingdevice of claim 2, further including network interface circuitry.
 6. Themobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the mobile computing deviceis a smartphone.
 7. The mobile computing device of claim 2, furtherincluding a modem to provide wireless communications.
 8. The mobilecomputing device of claim 2, wherein the first camera sensor is offsetfrom a first line that may be drawn to extend between the second andthird camera sensors, the first camera sensor positioned at a locationon a second line that may be drawn to pass between the second and thirdcamera sensors in a direction normal to the first line.
 9. The mobilecomputing device of claim 2, wherein the touchscreen is to display thefirst content and second content in real-time to when the at least oneof the first data or the second data is generated and when the thirddata is generated.
 10. A mobile computing device, comprising: a housinghaving: a first edge; a second edge; a first corner joining the firstand second edges; a third edge opposite the first edge; a second cornerjoining the second and third edges; a fourth edge opposite the secondedge, the first and third edges having a first length, the second andfourth edges having a second length greater than the first length; athird corner joining the third and fourth edges; a fourth corner joiningthe first and fourth edges; a first side; and a second side opposite thefirst side; means for displaying, the displaying means associated withthe first side and facing in a first direction; first means for sensing,the first sensing means to generate first data, the first dataassociated with an environment in a second direction opposite the firstdirection; second means for sensing, the second sensing means togenerate second data, the second data associated with the environment inthe second direction; third means for sensing, the third sensing meansto generate third data, the third data associated with the environmentin the second direction, the first sensing means having a higherresolution than either the second sensing means or the third sensingmeans, the first, second, and third sensing means arranged in atriangular pattern, the first, second, and third sensing means closer tothe first edge than to the third edge; means for storing data; and meansfor executing instructions, the executing means to: cause a soft shutterbutton to be displayed on the displaying means, the soft shutter buttonto be displayed closer to the third edge than to the first edge; causethe displaying means to display first content associated with at leastone of the first data or the second data and display second contentassociated with the third data, the first content and the second contentto be displayed concurrently on the displaying means; enable switchingof the mobile computing device between different camera modes; andprocess, when the mobile computing device is in a first one of thedifferent camera modes, at least two of the first data, the second data,or the third data.
 11. The mobile computing device of claim 10, whereinat least one of the second data or the third data includes informationrelating to depth associated with the environment in the seconddirection.
 12. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein theexecuting means is to process, when the mobile computing device is inthe first one of the different camera modes, all three of the firstdata, the second data, and the third data.
 13. The mobile computingdevice of claim 10, further including network interface circuitry. 14.The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein the mobile computingdevice is a smartphone.
 15. The mobile computing device of claim 10,further including means for communicating wirelessly.
 16. The mobilecomputing device of claim 10, wherein the first sensing means is offsetfrom a first line that may be drawn to extend between the second andthird sensing means, the first sensing means positioned at a location ona second line that may be drawn to pass between the second and thirdsensing means in a direction normal to the first line.
 17. The mobilecomputing device of claim 10, wherein the displaying means is to displaythe first and second content in real-time to when the at least one ofthe first data or the second data is generated and when the third datais generated.